Surgical drape



April 1969 J.'M. BENNETT 3,435,821

SURGICAL DRAPE Filed m 19. 1966 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. BENNE TT ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,435,821 SURGICAL DRAPE Joseph M. Bennett, 1Thomas Powell Blvd., Farmingdale, NY. 11735 Filed July 19, 1966, Ser.No. 566,344 Int. Cl. A61g 13/00; A61f /44 US. Cl. 128-132 12 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to asurgical drape for use during surgery and, more particularly, pertainsto a drape which is adapted to be received in a body cavity during anoperation.

In certain surgical operations and, in particular, in operationsinvolving abdominal surgery, it is common practice to pack sterilizedcotton wadding or the like about severed fluid carrying tubes or ductsto sponge up and absorb the fluids and to close the tubes to stop theflow of the fluid. The sponging wadding is utilized to absorb the wastedrippings which flow out of the open ends of the severed tube prior toclosing the same or which may leak out of the tubes after they have beenclosed to prevent contamination of the body cavity by this liquid waste.However, this practice has been found to be extremely inefficient anduneconomical.

For example, it is extremely time-consuming to pack absorbent material ia body cavity during an operation. Moreover, if this material becomessaturated with the waste liquid it provides an environment which isconductive to the growth of bacteria. This, of course, may result indisastrous consequences. Accordingly, the saturated wadding must bereplaced frequently by clean material. As a result, this practice hasbeen looked upon with continuing disfavor by surgeons and doctors sincethe removal of the saturated material and the packing of the cleanmaterial disrupts the operation.

Additionally, problems arise in attempting to close the severed end ofthe tubes. conventionally, the closing of the tubes is accomplished byutilizing rubber shod or atraumatic clamps to collapse and seal the openends of the severed tubes. However, during the course of an operationthe clamps often become dislodged whereupon the closed tubes openthereby to allow additional waste fluid to enter the body cavity. Thus,the surgeon must interrupt his work until the clamps are againpositioned about the tubes.

Accordingly, a desideratum of the present invention is to provide asurgical drape which is adapted to be quickly and easily positioned in abody cavity during an operation to prevent contamination of the bodycavity by liquid waste.

A further object and feature of the present invention resides in thenovel details of constructio which provide a surgical drape whichincludes means for closing the open ends of a severed tube in theabdominal cavity during an operation to prevent the flow ofcontaminating liquids out of the tubes and into the cavity.

In many surgical cases it is highly desirable that a surgeon observe theareas adjacent to the area which is undergoing the operation. This ispractically an impossibility in the prior art practice since thewadd-ing or ab sorbent material is opaque and hides the body portion icetherebelow from observation. Hence, it is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a surgical drape which retains wasteliquids on its upper surface and which is transparent to afford thesurgeon an unobstructed view of the areas of the abdomen bordering onthe area undergoing the operation.

In furtherance of the above objects, the surgical drape of the presentinvention includes a. flexible sheet which is adapted to be placedwithin the body cavity of a patient during an operation. The sheet isimpervious to body liquids and, in practice, may include at least onepair of tube-sealing areas on the sheet. Each one of the tube-sealingareas includes tube-receiving means for receiving a portion of a severedtube therethrough. Tie means may be provided which surround thetube-receiving means and are adapted to be grasped by the surgeon todraw the sheet tight about the severed tube to seal the open ends of thesevered tube thereby to prevent waste fluid from flowing out of the tubeand into the body cavity. Since the drape is impervious to liquids itretains all such contaminating fluids or liquids on the upper surfacethereof thereby to maintain the body cavity free of the contaminatingliquids.

Other features and objects of the present invention will become moreapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a surgical drape constructed in accordancewith the present invention, illustrating the position of the draperelative to a human body during an operation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed side elevational view of the surgicaldrape shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the sheet sealing the open end of asevered tube;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of a surgical drape;and

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of a surgical drape constructed accordingto the present invention.

The surgical drape of the present invention is designated generally bythe numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and includes a flexible sheet 12 which isimpervious to liquids. In practice, the sheet 12 comprises a transparentsheet of plastic material. However, this construction is by way ofexample only and is not to be interpreted as being a limitation on thepresent invention because any flexible sheet which is impervious toliquids may be utilized. Additionally, the sheet 12 is fabricated from amaterial which may be sterilized at relatively high temperatures withoutatfecting any of the physical properties of the sheet.

Defined on the surface of the sheet 12 are two tubereceiving areasrespectively designated 14 and 16. The areas 14 and 16 are spaced fromeach other by a preselected distance which, in the embodiment shown, isapproximately equal to the spacing between those tubes which are to besevered during the operation. Under normal conditions, this spacing willbe approximately 35 centimeters.

Each of the areas 14 and 16 includes a reinforcing section 18 which isconnected to the. surface of the sheet 12 in any conventional manner asby cementing the same to the sheet. On the other hand, the sections 18and the sheet 12 may be fabricated as a single integral unit.Entranceway apertures 20 and 22 are defined on the surface of the sheetin each of the areas 14 and 16 and extend through the sheet 12 and thereinforcing sections 18. Received between the sheet 12 and the sections18 and extending about the apertures 20 and 22 in spaced relationthereto are respective bands or tapes 24 and 26. More specifically, thetape 24 surrounds the aperture 20 and the ends of the tape 24 extendlongitudinally outward beyond the left side edge of the section 18.Similarly, the tape 26 surrounds the aperture 22 and extendslongitudinally toward the right, as shown in FIG. 1, beyond theright-hand edge of the reinforcing section 18. The ends of the tapes 24and 26 are positioned so that they easily may be grasped by a surgeonfor his use and for the reasons noted hereinbelow.

While the use of the surgical drape of the present invention will bedescribed in conjunction with a surgical operation involving the abdomenof a patient it will be obvious that the drape need not necessarily belimited to such an operation. That is, the drape of the presentinvention may be utilized for any operation in which it is desired toprevent a liquid from contaminating exposed portions of the body.However, it will be assumed for purposes of explanation that the drape10 is here employed during an intestinal operation. In such case theabdominal cavity C of a patient P will be opened in accordance withstandard surgical techniques. The intestinal tube under consideration isthen severed to provide twoopen-ended tubes 28 and 30.

Normally, the liquid or fluid which flows through the severed tube wouldthen flow out of the open ends of the tubes 28 and 30 and into the bodycavity C of the patient thereby to contaminate the body cavity. However,in accordance with the present invention the open ends of the tubes 28and 30 are immediately received through the entranceway apertures and 22in the tube-receiving areas 14 and 16 of the drape 10. The sheet 12 isof sufficient dimension so that it may be spread throughout andoverlapping relation with the body cavity C thereby to prevent the fluidfrom flowing out of the tubes 28 and and into the body cavity. Since thesheet 10 is impervious to liquids, any contaminating liquid which flowsout of the tube will simply collect on the upper surface of the sheet 12and will not contaminate the body cavity.

As soon as the ends of the tubes 28 and 30 are inserted through theapertures 20 and 22, the tapes 24 and 26 are drawn tight about therespective tubes thereby to cause the sheet 12 to tighten about therespective tubes (FIG. 2) and collapse the walls thereof. The ends ofthe tapes 24 and 26 are then tied to seal the ends of the respectivetubes 28 and 30 to prevent the flow of the body fluid out of the open.ends of these tubes. It will be noted that the tie strings or tapes 24and 26, each surrounding their respective entranceway apertures throughwhich the severed ends of the tubes are received, are in spaced relationto the aperture. Thus, the sheet surface forms the space therebetween sothat when the tapes are drawn snugly and tightly about their respectiveintestinal tubes, the sheet surface in the space between the tie stringand aperture extends along a portion of the length of the tube as seenin FIG. 2 to ensure encapsulation of the tube for a portion of itslength. Moreover, this portion of the sheet surface prevents fluidswhich may seep out of the tubes from running down the outer wall of thetube, be tween the tube and the sheet and into the cavity C. That is,the portion of the sheet which extends along the length of the tubecauses the fluid or waste drippings to flow onto the upper surface ofthe sheet rather than between the sheet and the tube.

If a portion of the body of the patient P other than the intestinal tubeis to be operated upon, the surgeon may make an appropriate incision inthe sheet 12 over that portion of the body undergoing the operation. Thesheet is then separated at this point to provide an entranceway throughthe sheet surface that will afford the surgeon access to the particularportion of the body under consideration. As noted hereinabove, the sheet12 advantageously may be fabricated from a transparent material so thatthe physician or surgeon may view those areas of the body which borderupon the portion of the body of the patient P undergoing operationthereby to provide the surgeon with an unobstructed view of all portionsof the cavity C.

If it is desired, absorbent material may be placed about the tube beforeit is severed to absorb the fluid which is initially emitted before thedrape 10 is affixed in place. After the drape is positioned in thecavity in the manner described above, the sponge or absorptive materialmay be removed.

Accordingly, a surgical drape has been provided which performs the dualfunction of maintaining the abdominal cavity of a patient free fromcontaminating liquids and which is further operable to quickly andefliciently seal any body tubes which may be severed during theoperation.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a modified embodiment of a surgical drape andis designated generally by the numeral 310. The surgical drape 310 issimilar to the surgical drape 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 andincludes a flexible sheet 312 the surface of which is impervious toliquids. Defined on the surface of the sheet 312 are tubereceiving areas314 and 316 which include reinforcing sections 318 which overlay thesheet 312. Received between the sections 318 and the sheet 312 in eachtubereceiving area are the respective tapes 24 and 26.

In practice operating surgeons find it more desirable that theintestinal tubes be encompassed within a close fitting entranceway 320-.If the entranceways 320 and 322 are of intially fixed aperture size asin the drape 18, the aperture may be too large or too small for theintestinal tube to be received therethrough. In solving this problem thesurface of the entranceways 320 and 322 are normally closed and form anuninterrupted continuation of the surface of the drape 310. Theentranceway surfaces are delineated and defined by weakened lines fortheir full lengths to provide variable dimension openings that willprecisely accommodate different sized tubes therethrough. Thus, thesurface of the drape 310 is initially unbroken and enables the same tobe used for other types of surgical procedures as Well.

When it is desired to use the drape 310 the surgeon breaks or severs thesection 318 and the aligned surface therebeneath of the section 312along the respective weakened entranceways 320 and 322 for the desiredextent of their lengths to provide openings which are substantiallyequal to the diameter of the respective tubes 28 and 30. That is, thedrape 318 is separated along the lines or portions 320 and 322 for apreselected distance. The tubes are then received through theseentranceway openings. Since the sheet 312 is flexible, the openings inthe areas 314 and 316 will spread apart to provide open areas which willclosely accommodate the tubes 28 and 30 therethrough. Hence, when thetubes are received through the drape 310, the drape will fit snuglyabout the tubes to prevent any contaminating fluid from running downinto the cavity C between the drape 310 and the outer wall of therespective tube. The tubes may then be sealed by tying the tapes 24 and26 in the manner indicated above. It should be noted that if theapertures in the drape 310 are made sufficiently small, the sheet per semay be made to constrict the tubes 28 and 30 thereby to prevent thewaste liquid from flowing out of the tubes. Accordingly, the tapes 24and 26 may be eliminated.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modified embodiment of a surgical drape 410which is similar in construction to the drape 310. That is, the drape410 also provides variable dimension opening. Thus, the drape 410 alsoincludes a sheet 412 which is similar to the sheet 12. Defined on thesheet 412 are spaced tube-receiving areas 414 and 416 which includesections 418 which overlie the sheet 412 and are connected thereto.Received between the sections 418 and the sheet 412 are the tapes 24 and26.

Defined in the sections 418 and the sheet 412 in each of thetube-receiving areas 414 and 416 are longitudinally and transverselyspaced perforations which define normally closed entranceway surfaces420 and 422, respectively. The entranceways 420 and 422 respectivelyterminate in free end tabs 432 and 434. The spaced perforations on thesheet surface 412 and sections 418 define a tear strip that may be tornopen to any desired extent and which when torn open results in the tubereceiving entranceway.

When it is desired to provide an aperture in the drape 410 to receivetubes therethrough, the tabs 432 and 434 are grasped by the surgeon andare pulled back so that the strips 420 and 422 defined by theperforations are separated from the sheet 412 and section 418. As thestrips 420 and 422 are separated from the drape 410 they expose -alengthening entranceway opening which can be formed substantially equalto the diameter of the respective tubes 28 and 30 to closely receive thesame therethrough. The tapes 24 and 26 may be used in the same manner asthe tapes disclosed in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 1 to sealthe tubes received through the drape. The surface of the sheetcomprising the space between the tapes 24 and 26 and the entrancewayopening extends upward along the length of the tube as shown in FIG. 2to encapsulate a lengthwise portion of the tube thereby ensuring thatspillage from the tube will flow down onto the drape surface.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious that numerous omissions, changesand additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical drape for use during surgery comprising a flexible sheetadapted to be placed within the body of a patient during an operation;

said sheet having a surface impervious to body liquids to prevent thepassage of the same therethrough;

at least one pair of tube-sealing areas on the surface of said sheet;each one of said areas being spaced from the next adjacent tube-sealingarea by a preselected distance;

each one of said areas including tube-receiving means for receiving atube forming a part of the human body therethrough,

and tie means surroundings said tube-receiving means and being in spacedrelation thereto for drawing said sheet tight about the tube receivedtherethrough to close said tube to prevent the flow of a body liquidthrough the tube.

2. A surgical drape according to claim 1,

in which said sheet is transparent,

and the surface of said sheet forming the space between saidtube-receiving means and tie means surrounding and extending along aportion of the length of the tube received in said tube-receiving means.

3. A surgical drape as in claim 1,

in which said tube-receiving means comprises an entranceway defined inthe surface of said sheet,

and said tie means comprises a tape surrounding said entranceway andextending outwardly therefrom.

4. A surgical drape according to claim 1,

wherein said tube-receiving means comprises a selectively variablelength entranceway defined in the surface of said sheet adapted to beopened to an area sufficicnt to receive a tube therethrough.

5. A surgical drape as in claim 4,

in which said selectively variable length entranceway includes aweakened portion in said tube-sealing areas,

whereby the surface of said sheet may be separated along said weakenedportions for a selected distance to provide an opening of a preselectedarea.

6. A surgical drape as in claim 4,

wherein said variable length entranceway includes a strip on said sheetdefined by spaced perforations, said strip terminating in a tab,

whereby said tab may be grasped by a surgeon to separate selectiveportions of said strip from said sheet to provide an opening in saidsheet.

7. A surgical drape as in claim 1,

in which each of said tube-sealing areas includes a reinforcing sectionconnected to said sheet,

said tie means being received between said reinforcing sections and saidsheet to maintain said tie means in a preselected position.

8. A surgical drape for containing contaminated liquids during anoperation comprising a flexible sheet impervious to liquids forretaining liquids on one surface there of to prevent the flow of aliquid through said sheet,

said sheet being adapted to be received in a body cavity during anoperation,

and at least one predefined tube-receiving portion on said sheet adaptedto receive a tube forming a part of the human body therein and to enablethe tube to extend through the sheet,

said tube-receiving portion including a selectively variable lengthentranceway in said sheet adapted to be opened to different preselectedlengths in accordance with the dimension of the tube to be receivedtherethrough.

9. A surgical drape as in claim 8,

wherein said variable length entranceway is normally closed before useand comprises a weakened line in said sheet,

said sheet being adapted to be separated a desired distance along saidweakened line to provide said variable length entranceway in said sheet.

10. A surgical drape according to claim 8,

wherein said variable length entranceway includes a strip in said sheetdefined by spaced perforations, said strip terminating in a tab section,

whereby said tab is adapted to be grasped by a surgeon to separatepreselected lengths of said strip from said sheet to provide saidvariable length entranceway.

11. A method of preventing contamination of a body cavity by liquidflowing out of the severed tube during an operation comprising providinga flexible sheet of material impervious to the passage of liquidstherethrough providing spaced entranceways in said sheet each surroundedby a separate tape,

placing said sheet in said body cavity with the ends of the severed tubeprojecting through each one of one of said spaced entranceways,

and drawing said tapes tight about the tubes to seal the tubes and thesheet liquid-tight about the tubes and prevent the flow of liquids outof said tubes.

12. The method of claim 11, including the further step of packingabsorbent material about said tubes prior to placing said sheet in thebody cavity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,030,957 4/ 1962 Melges 128-1323,060,932 10/1962 Pereny et a1. 128-132 3,111,943 11/ 1963 Orndorff128132 3,251,360 5/1966 Melges 128-132 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

